Mets boot away Game 4, face must-win scenario in Game 5 Sunday night

robert criscola

Kansas City took Game 4 by a score of 5-3

Daniel Murphy reacts after the Royals take Game 4.

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The Kansas City Royals took advantage of the Mets’ late mistakes to come back and win Game 4 of the World Series, 5-3. They now lead the series 3-1 and have a chance to eliminate the Mets in Game 5 on Sunday night.

After playing the hero in the NLDS and NLCS, Daniel Murphy is trying on the goat horns in the World Series; his fielding error in the middle of the eighth inning was among the frustrating plays that took place in that frame as the Royals came back from a 3-2 deficit.

Murphy was not the sole reason the Royals posted three runs in that key inning though; Tyler Clippard, whose role as the set-up man has to be considered tenuous at this point, got one out then walked two straight batters to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Jeurys Familia came in after those walks, looking for a five-out save. He gave up the ground ball that Murphy botched (off the bat of Eric Hosmer), then allowed back-to-back singles to Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez to give K.C. the lead. Familia has now blown two straight saves.

The Mets had a chance to at least tie the game in the bottom of the ninth off Royals closer Wade Davis, who was asked to get six outs, but it did not come to pass. With the tying runs on base, Lucas Duda lined out to third and Yoenis Cespedes was doubled off first to end the game as he took off haphazardly and couldn’t get back in time.

The bright spot for the Mets on offense was rookie outfielder Michael Conforto, who homered deep to right in his first two at-bats.

Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision, partly because they didn’t last very long. The Royals pulled Chris Young after just four innings, choosing to pinch hit for him in the top of the fifth with Kendrys Morales. The move did not pan out for Ned Yost, as the Royals still trailed after that frame. Steven Matz was excellent through five for the Mets, getting into little trouble except for the fifth inning in which he gave up three hits and a run. Matz was sent back out for the sixth but gave up two hits and a run before being yanked by Terry Collins. Matz was in line for the win before the Mets surrendered the lead late.

The Mets face a do-or-die scenario at home in Game 5 Sunday night; Matt Harvey gets the ball squaring off against Edinson Volquez.